TobyDrowzy's  Blog

When a client has gotten on my table, the first thing I do is allow my hands to compress the muscles of the body. Starting with the upper back and going all over the body, my hands are "reading" the body. What does this mean? I'm looking for two things. Inflammation produces heat. I'm looking for any area that may be producing heat and thus swelling. I'm also looking for tight muscles that may be knotted and in need of special attention. I use compression therapy in this "reading" to stretch the muscles in order to determine their status. While the client may be thinking "would he just go ahead and start rubbing my body," it really is an important part of what the therapist should be doing. If your therapist is just immediately throwing oil onto skin without first examining the muscles and "reading" the body, they are missing an important step in your treatment. Want a good massage? First, listen to the body. Trained hands can easily read the body.